IC Potash Issues Operational Update on Ochoa Sulphate of Potash
Project in New Mexico
IC Potash Issues Operational Update on Ochoa Sulphate of Potash
Project in New Mexico
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - Oct 10, 2013) - IC Potash
Corp. ("ICP" or the "Company") (TSX: ICP) (OTCQX: ICPTF)
today issued an update on the Company's operations including the
timing of the finalization of the Feasibility Study for the Ochoa
Sulphate of Potash ("SOP") project in southeastern New Mexico.
Publication of Feasibility Study
ICP's staff of technical professionals are continuing to work
with its team of more than 100 industry consultants on the
completion of the Feasibility Study ("Study"). The Study is nearing
completion and is expected to be finalized in December. The Study
is being completed by SNC-Lavalin Inc.; Agapito Associates, Inc.
and Novopro Projects, Inc. Pilot studies and the pilot plant
testing have been carried out by Hazen Research, Inc. and HPD
Systems, LLC ("HPD"), part of Veolia Water Solutions and
Technology.
Sidney Himmel, President and CEO of IC Potash, stated, "The
Company is focused on the mining of Polyhalite, a potash mineral,
and its processing into Sulphate of Potash ("SOP"), the world's
premium priced potash used in the agriculture of fruits and
vegetables and in salt-sensitive soils. The completion of the Study
will mark the most significant milestone achieved by ICP. Upon
completion, with the final economic data and definitive cost
assessments, we will continue negotiations with various domestic
and international institutions and strategic industry partners to
fund the New Mexico Ochoa SOP Project."
Pilot Plant Optimization Tests
In early September, the Company and HPD successfully completed
the initial pilot plant testing in connection with the processing
of Polyhalite ore into SOP. The pilot test demonstrated the robust
nature of the flow sheet and economic conversion of Polyhalite to
SOP. The results were very positive, being consistent with the
effective and efficient processing of Polyhalite ore into various
grades of SOP, and will be incorporated into the Study with respect
to final equipment selection and sizing and the computation of
projected capital costs and operating costs. Pilot testing includes
the crushing, grinding, washing and dewatering of mined ore;
calcination, which is the controlled heating to remove entrapped
water thereby increasing ore solubility; leaching of the calcined
ore and the crystallization of SOP.
Jurisdictional Determination on Waters of the
US
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the
"Corps") determined that the Ochoa Project area is composed
entirely of uplands and upland drainage, therefore seeking federal
permits relating to water will not be required. Consequently, the
Corps issued ICP a Jurisdictional Determination confirming that its
planned Polyhalite mining and processing operations will not
require the Corps' authorization to proceed with constructing the
mine and processing plant, nor will it be subject to ongoing
monitoring once in commercial operations.
Water Supply
In September, ICP was notified by the New Mexico Office of the
State Engineer that the Company has met the requirements of state
statute NMSA 17-12-25 through 17-12-28 and may appropriate water
from the Capitan Reef for mining and industrial use by the Ochoa
Project, so long as the Company complies with the standard metering
and reporting requirements as detailed in the confirmation letter.
This letter gives the Company full right to utilize deep,
non-potable water, culminating nearly three years of well drilling
and well testing, modeling, water treatment test work and
permitting. The water will be treated by reverse osmosis to reduce
dissolved solids to the extent required for process water to be
used in the leaching and crystallization processes required to
produce SOP.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
On Friday, August 9, 2013, the U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") published the Notice of
Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. On August
27 and 28, the BLM hosted three public meetings in Carlsbad, Jal
and Hobbs, New Mexico to give interested stakeholders the
opportunity to comment and make their opinions of the Ochoa project
known. The comment period closed on September 23, 2013. ICP
anticipates that the permitting process will proceed as planned,
culminating in the clearance of the final Environmental Impact
Statement in the first quarter of 2014.
Closing Remarks
Concluding, Himmel added, "We firmly believe that the investment
of time and resources devoted to developing our long-life asset in
southeastern New Mexico will provide a strong foundation for future
growth and deliver long-term value for our shareholders for decades
to come. However, we still have more hard work ahead of us. While
the Company continues to enjoy sufficient liquidity to complete the
Feasibility Study and several months of operations thereafter, we
recognize that the financial market environment for project funding
could remain challenging for junior mining companies for the next
12-18 months. Nonetheless, we stand ready to meet these challenges
with the same commitment, skill and dedication that has served to
differentiate IC Potash as a world class company with extraordinary
future promise."
About IC Potash Corp.
ICP intends to become a primary producer of Sulphate
of Potash ("SOP") and Sulphate of Potash Magnesia ("SOPM") by
mining its 100%-owned Ochoa property in southeast New Mexico, a
highly advanced polyhalite mineral deposit containing proven and
probable reserves of more than 340 million tons of ore within the
proposed mine plan. SOP is a non-chloride based potash fertilizer
that sells at a substantial premium over the price of regular
potash known as Muriate of Potash ("MOP"). MOP contains chloride
and is therefore not the optimal potash for numerous crops and in
situations where there is high soil salinity. ICP is focused on
becoming the lowest cost producer of SOP in the world, a market
that is towards six million tonnes per year. SOP is a significant
fertilizer in horticultural industries, particularly fruits,
vegetables, tobacco and potatoes. SOP is applicable for soils where
there are substantial agricultural activity, high soil salinity,
and in arid regions. SOPM is a highly desirable potash product for
soils with magnesium deficiency, and has a total global market size
of over one million tonnes. ICP's Ochoa property consists of nearly
90,000 acres of federal subsurface potassium prospecting permits
and State of New Mexico Potassium mining leases. For more
information, please visit www.icpotash.com.
All scientific and technical disclosures in this press
release have been prepared under the supervision of Terre Lane, an
employee of ICP who is a Qualified Person within the meaning of
National Instrument 43-101.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information set forth in this news release
may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial
known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which
may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ICP to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that use
forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect",
"anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative
thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such
forward-looking statements include, without limitation, reserve
estimates, statements regarding the expected results of the FS and
completion of the FS on schedule and on budget, ICP's expected
position as one of the lowest cost producers of SOP in the world,
the timing of receipt and publication of ICP's environmental
permits, the sufficiency of ICP's cash balances, the timing of
production, and other statements that are not historical facts.
These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and
uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of ICP,
including, but not limited to, risks associated with mineral
exploration and mining activities, the impact of general economic
conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory
approvals, the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing, and
risks associated with turning reserves into product. Readers are
cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such
information, although considered reasonable at the time of
preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance
should not be placed on forward-looking statements.